Nonprofit screen
Screen a listThe Breakthrough Institute
Can you give?
Listed with the IRS, but California flags it.
Check its California registration before you grant.
- IRS nonprofit listing
- No issue
- Revocation
- None
- IRS files
- Agree
- Sanctions
- No match
- IRS bulletin
- No notice
- California
- Not current
- Charity type
- 509(a)(1)
$5.1Mrevenue
FY2025 · −25% in 3 yrs27staff
8 of 8years filed
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Revenue and spendingRevenueSpendingDeficit
Against similar nonprofits FY2025
Operating margin−14.1%
Months of reserve2.3mo
Revenue growth (annualized)+9.1%
Middle half of peersMedianBreakthrough Institute
Where the money goes FY2025 · $5.8M spent
Programs$4.8M83%Management and general$739k13%Fundraising$226k4%990 FY2025 · Part IX line 25
Worth checking1
Deficits in 2 of the last 3 years
−$2.1M in FY2023 and −$714k in FY2025. Cash covers 2.3 months, under the peer median of 5.1.
990 Part I and balance sheetIn its favor2
Strong governance
9 of 9 board members independent. Conflict-of-interest and whistleblower policies, audited financial statements, board reviews the 990.
990 Part VIFunders stay
11 of the 16 funders that gave before FY2021 are still giving.
Funders’ 990-PF grant lists39funders
$4.7Ma year, last 3 years
31%from its largest funder
Funder’17’18’19’20’21’22’23Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable TrustSince FY2019$900k$900k$900k$900k$700kBreakthrough Energy FoundationSince FY2022$1.8M$1.3MThe William & Flora Hewlett FoundationOn and off$150k$130k$250k$400k$400k$250kThe Rodel FoundationOn and off$255k$225k$200k$100kPtsrk FoundationEvery year since FY2017$100k$100k$100k$100k$100k$100k$100kWinkler Family FoundationOn and off$100k$150k$125k$50kDonor-advised giftsDonors not disclosed$953k$430k$482k$567k$690k$3.8M$2.6M15 other fundersUp to $200k a year each$210k$60k$95k$156k$132k$75k$42k
FundedThrough a donor-advised fund